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How to Grow Low-Growing & Upright Sedum (Stonecrop) in Your Garden

Image Credit:
Pixabay
Botanical Name
Sedum spp., Hylotelephium spp.
Grown as
Perennial
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Partial Sun
Bloom Time
Summer
Fall
Flower Color
Orange
Pink
Red
White
Yellow
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Fall Color
Long Blooming
Low Maintenance
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Songbirds
Plant Type
Flowers
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Sedums have it all! This perennial plant has succulent green foliage and produces clusters of star-shaped flowers that bloom from midsummer to fall. It’s easy to care for and beloved by pollinators, too! Here’s how to grow sedum in your garden.

Perennial plants don’t get much easier than sedum, a genus of succulents with fleshy stems and succulent leaves—also called “stonecrop” or “live-forever.” A hardy plant that grows well in shallow soil, there is a sedum variety for almost every garden.

We like to divide sedum into two main categories based on the plants’ growth habits: low-growing sedum and upright sedum.

  • Low–growing sedum spreads along the ground, reaching only a few inches (or less) in height. This makes them perfect for use as a ground cover along paths, in rock gardens, or cascading down a stone wall.
  • Tall or upright sedum tends to form tall, upright clumps that produce large flower heads in tight masses of tiny reddish-pink flowers. Their height and attractive flowers make them good candidates for border gardens or pollinator gardens. A few years ago, upright sedum was reclassified to another genus, Hylotelephium, but it is still commonly referred to as a “sedum.”

Planting

Where to Plant Sedum

Sedum enjoy full sun but will tolerate some shade. If growing sedum in an area that gets long, cold winters (Zone 5 and colder), plant in full sun to improve overwintering capability.

Sedum grows well in poor or sandy soil, but it’s important to have well-draining soil to avoid fungal diseases. It is very susceptible to root rot if grown in soil that holds too much moisture. Overly rich soil can also encourage leggy growth, which can result in upright sedum varieties becoming top-heavy when they bloom.

When to Plant Sedum

  • Sedum is usually bought in plugs or pots and transplanted into the garden. The best time to plant sedum is in the spring—after the threat of frost but before the heat of summer kicks in.
  • Plant sedum seeds in early spring in well-draining, average to rich soil. (Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.)

Sedum with yellow flowers

How to Plant Sedum

  • Space plants between 6 inches and 2 feet apart, depending on the variety. Low-growing sedums will readily spread to fill any gaps, while upright sedums tend to stay more compact.
  • Planting full plants or divisions: Dig a hole deep enough so that the top of the root ball is level with the surface of the soil, then place the plant in the hole and fill in around it. Be careful not to bury the stems of upright sedum, as this can lead to rot.
  • Planting cuttings: Like other succulents, sedum can be readily propagated via cuttings. Simply place the cut end into soil, and the cutting should have no trouble rooting under proper lighting and watering conditions.

Growing

  • Once established, sedum plants require little care. During the summer, check your plants regularly to make sure they are not too dry and water (sparingly) if needed. As long as your area gets rain every couple of weeks at the least, sedum shouldn’t need any extra watering.
  • After flowering, cut back the plants to maintain their shape or contain them in one area.
    • Tip: For added winter interest, leave the flowers of upright sedum alone after they bloom. They will form attractive seed heads.
  • Remember to divide your plants in the spring or fall to control their spread. Throughout the summer, divisions and cuttings root readily.

Sedum

Pests and Problems

  • Mealybugs
  • Scale insects
  • Slugs
  • Snails
  • Birds, deer, squirrels, and voles may nibble on the succulent foliage of sedum.

Types

  • Sedum humifusum makes for a great ground cover and has beautiful, bright yellow flowers
  • ‘Brilliant’, ‘Autumn Fire’, and ‘Autumn Joy’ upright sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile, aka Sedum spectabile) add bursts of bright pink and magenta to your garden
  • ‘Blue Spruce’ (Sedum reflexum) is a low-growing sedum with blue-green, spruce-like foliage and yellow flowers

Flowers

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening, so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Fred</span> Tue, 08/08/2017 - 12:31
I have a number of sedum 'angelina' that seem to be rotting from the center of the plant. The center of the plant is black with no foliage while the rest of plant has normal bright green leaves. Are there rot or dieback concerns with this plant?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 08/14/2017 - 14:40

Rot is the number one concern for all sedums and succulents. If you've been getting a lot of rain or the soil hasn't had enough time to dry out, it could have caused your sedum to start to rot from the center, where most of its roots are. It might be a good idea to snip off a few small, healthy pieces and stick them in a drier area, just so that you have a backup plant in case the first succumbs to rot. 

 <span>Jane</span> Sat, 08/05/2017 - 18:22
I have a well established large sedom. I've been waiting for it "bloom". It has what looks like blooms but it s still green. It's very healthy looking. Does it need a certain fertilizer?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 08/07/2017 - 17:34

We are disinclined to think it needs fertilizer. Per above, most ask for only a lot of sun. And excellent drainage. You don't say where you are, but high heat can be oppressive for them, in which case partial sun is appreciated. It might help to know which particular type of sedum you're referring to. Review the advice above, see if it sounds like what you're doing.

 <span>Mary</span> Fri, 06/30/2017 - 18:31
i thought perhaps deer were eating the leaves off my sedum plants but the last several mornings I have seen little birds pecking at the leaves I do not see any little critters on the leaves but I am now left with stalks onlyI any suggestions?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 07/05/2017 - 14:53

Birds have been known to peck at sedum in the summer to get at the moisture stored in sedum's leaves. Has it been particularly dry or hot where you live? This could be why the ever-resourceful birds are going to unusual lengths for water. We would suggest covering your sedum with some bird-proof netting for the time being. You can remove the netting once the sedum starts to flower, if it hasn't already, as the birds should leave the flowers alone. We would also suggest putting out a bird bath or two in your yard to give the birds an alternative water source.

 <span>David Parre</span> Tue, 06/20/2017 - 16:10
I just bought a sedum about 2-3 weeks ago, it's still in a container. Can I transplant it to the ground now or should I wait til fall?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 06/21/2017 - 12:58

Sedum should not have a problem with being planted during the summer. If possible, try to plant it at a time when there is a mix of sun and rain in the forecast. If your climate is particularly hot and dry, give the sedum a bit more water than you normally would.

 <span>Roger Chambers</span> Mon, 06/19/2017 - 09:08
What is typical size, height and width of sedum, and what about spacing?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 06/20/2017 - 09:15

Hi, Roger: This question is really too broad to answer. There are many varieties of sedum, which range in height/width from under a foot to several. Spacing varies, too. Some online research would be in order. Thanks for asking!